The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7260 p161
2 August 2003

Society summary

Society's arms and motto explained in new information sheets from museum

The museum of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has published two new information sheets explaining the Society's arms and motto.

The Society's arms, crest and motto depicted on a stained glass window panel, which shows them and the supporters surrounded by classical architectural motifs. Probably dating from about 1910, the window was originally in the examination hall of the Society's house in Bloomsbury Square. It is now on display near the reception area in the Society's Lambeth headquarters building

"The Society's coat of arms" explains the history of the grant of the arms and discusses the symbolism of the images on the shield of arms. It goes on to give brief details of the two supporters, Galen and Avicenna.

Galen was born in AD129 but his prolific texts and recipes were used by practitioners until well into the 1600s. He continues to be revered as a "father of medicine".

The extensive writings of Avicenna, born in AD980, included a 'Canon of medicine' which fused much of Galen's earlier thinking into a definitive medical discipline. It had an immense influence on medical thinking in Renaissance Europe.

"The Society's motto" explains that the motto — Habenda ratio valetudinis — originates in the writings of Cicero in a dissertation on old age, 'De Senectute'. It is generally translated loosely as "We must pay attention to our health", although a more accurate translation would be "Taking account of health".

Briony Hudson, keeper of the museum collections, said: "The museum regularly receives enquiries about the meaning of the Society's coat of arms and particularly its motto. By providing these information sheets, the explanations are readily available to members and other users of the museum or the Society's website."

Both information sheets can be downloaded from the museum section of the Society's website.